John F. "Jack" Lavin

January 22, 1937 - February 24, 2022

John “Jack” Lavin, 85, of Spotsylvania passed away Thursday, February 24, 2022. Jack Lavin was an esteemed member of the Petroleum Community for over 50 years. He was the founder and managing director of the National Petroleum Management Association from Sept. 2009 to present. Mr. Lavin retired from federal government service in 2009, as the Deputy Director, GS-15, Headquarters U.S. Air Force Petroleum Agency, Fort Belvoir VA. As the Air Force’s top senior petroleum expert, he was responsible for developing, fielding and enhancing petroleum, alternative fuels, missile propellants, chemical, gases and cryogenic support capabilities for USAF operational forces, NASA and other organizations. He led the efforts for the Air Force JP-8 to COM Jet- A conversion pilot program. He had extensive authority for program and budget execution providing enterprise-level analytical, scientific, engineering & operational technical support and service for Air, Space and Ground forces across the spectrum of operations. Mr. Lavin was the author and creator of the Logistics Education Advancement Program and the Petroleum Logistics Management Course to train and mentor fuel handlers. A senior logistician with multicultural experience, Mr. Lavin served on the National Academy of Sciences, Transportation Research Board’s Airport Cooperative Research Program as a panel member developing requirements and evaluating industry proposals for a “drop-in” alternative jet fuel production capability at commercial airports. He consulted for the Washington DC Cohen Group, Metron Aviation and Airline Capital Associates of New York City. After five decades of public service, Jack Lavin leaves behind a record of unparalleled accomplishments. He retired from USAF active duty as a Chief Master Sergeant (E-9). During 30+ years of active duty, his military assignments took him to Alaska, Vietnam, Greenland, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Hawaii, Egypt and Sudan. His dedication and commitment to the logistics fuels community and the United States Air Force is unprecedented and his contributions countless. He made a lasting footprint for future generations. In 2009, the Air Force Fuels Civilian Leader of the Year Award was renamed the John F. Lavin Air Force Fuels Civilian Leader of the Year Award. An ICON possessing “Deep Smarts” in the fuels business, Jack Lavin was affectionately and widely known as “The Godfather of Fuels”. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Ruth Ann Lavin; two sons, Dean Michael Lavin (Michelle) and Jeffrey Alan Lavin (Gina); a sister, Elaine Schoell, twenty grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, John Francis Lavin, Jr. A memorial service will be held in his honor at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Found and Sons Funeral Chapels, 10719 Courthouse Rd., Fredericksburg. His family will receive friends one hour prior. Interment will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org) or the American Heart Association (heart.org).